Bone lesions in elderly multiple myeloma

We investigated the incidence of bone lesions in elderly cases of multiple myeloma (MM) and the course of those lesions, and also evaluated the relationships of skeletal symptoms with prognostic factors, and prognosis. The subjects were 146 patients, aged 65 years or more (median age 74, range 65-97 year), who were admitted to 11 institutions between January, 1988 and December, 1997. They consisted of 64 men and 82 women. The disease type was IgG type in 88 patients, IgA type in 37 patients, Bence-Jones (BJ) type in 17 patients, IgD type in three patients, and non-secretory type in one patient. Bone lesions in elderly MM patients were compared with those in 65 non-elderly MM patients. Skeletal symptoms were noted in 104 patients, and bone pain in 75 patients at the time of diagnosis. The bone lesions were evaluated as only osteolytic lesions in 26 patients, osteolytic lesions + osteoporosis in 23 patients, only osteoporosis in 2 patients and pathologic bone fractures in 53 patients. The occurrence rate of osteoporosis plus osteolytic lesion was higher in elderly patients (63.5%) than that in non-elderly patients (NE-MM group) (28.3%) (p < 0.0001). The bone lesions were most often observed in lumbar vertebrae (58.7%), cranial bone (56.7%), thoracic vertebrae (40.4%) and ribs (27.9%). The occurrence rate of bone lesion in lumbar vertebrae was higher in elderly patients (58.7%) than that in non-elderly patients (22.6%) (p < 0.0001). The life activities were limited in 71 patients because of the bone lesions. The relationship between the prognostic factors of MM and bone lesions was evaluated. There was a significant difference in the serum Ca level between patients with and without bone pain (P < 0.0001) and between those with and without pathologic bone fracture (P < 0.01). There was a significant difference in the appearance rate of plasma cells in the bone marrow between the patients with and without bone lesions (P < 0.05), between those with and without bone pain (P < 0.01), and between those with and without pathologic fracture (P < 0.05). There was a significant difference in the serum beta 2-microglobulin level between the patients with and without bone pain, and between those with and without pathologic fracture. There were no significant differences in survival times between elderly MM patients with and without bone lesions, bone pain and pathological bone fractures, while significant differences of survival times were found between non-elderly MM patients with and without bone lesions, bone pain and pathological bone fractures (P < 0.05, each). These data suggest that there are some differences in bone lesions between elderly and non-elderly MM patients.     

Treatment of bedsores--combination of therapies depended the experimental design method

The treatment of bedsores is a particular problem in geriatric medicine. We selected standard drugs that may be effective for the decubitus ulcer, and investigated combination therapy to develop efficient treatment The subjects were 16 patients in whom the grade of the bedsore was evaluated as II to IV according to the Shea's depth classification. Treatment was performed while all patients were on air mats. We selected drugs and treatment methods based on the previously established experimental design of Taguchi. Based on this, we created and adapted 16 different component combination treatment programs in accordance with the L16 rectangular cross table. The following component factors were adopted: A: types of covering substances on the wound surface (Elase ointment, isodine sugar, isodine gel solcoseryl ointment); B: Isalopan powder; C: Spray of 10 ml physiological saline containing 500 microg of prostaglandin (concentration 0.005%); D: daily number of treatments; and F: presence or absence of tapping. We serially measured the wound surface area as an index of the speed of wound healing, and measured the interval (day) until the area decreased to one half of the original size (T1/2, half life). We analyzed data on one combination treatment each in 16 patients. Analysis of variance of the above factors showed significant F values for factors A, B, D and F. The contribution rates for factors A, B, D and F were 37.84%, 8.47%, 14.98% and 13.81%, respectively. The error term (e) was 16.37%. Optimal results were seen in the groups in which solcoseryl ointment had been applied twice a day. In this study, prostaglandin, which had been anticipated to be effective, did not show any effects. The error term (e) suggests the presence of other healing factors including individual differences. Concerning this point, it well be necessary to examine a larger number of patients in the future. With ointment treatment alone, without using an air mat, it was confirmed that bedsore area reduction was extremely unstable. Decompression of the affected part may be a basic prevention factor and essential treatment of bedsores.     

Well‐differentiated papillary mesothelioma,possibly giving rise to diffuse malignant mesothelioma: A case report

Well‐differentiated papillary mesothelioma (WDPM) is a distinct subtype of mesothelial tumor from diffuse malignant mesothelioma (DMM), with an uncertain malignant potential. The relationship between WDPM and DMM, with regard to the ability of the former to develop into the latter, is also unknown. A 58‐year‐old woman, diagnosed with a rectal carcinoid tumor, underwent removal of the lymph nodes via the abdomen in 2004. A large number of white miliary nodules were identified on the mesentery and peritoneum, which were histologically diagnosed as WDPM. No further therapy was administered, but the patient was followed‐up using imaging methods. Seven years later, an abdominal wall mass was discovered using positron emission tomography‐computed tomography, and a laparotomy biopsy was performed. DMM was diagnosed, because mesothelioma with extended invasion had been histologically identified. Mesothelioma similar to papillary proliferation was present on the outer layer of the peritoneum, and an infiltrating lesion with continuous restiform or solid‐like structures was noted. WDPM was believed to have undergone malignant transformation. Compared to DMM, WDPM has a good prognosis and is considered a benign or borderline neoplasm. Our findings suggest that WDPM does have malignant potential, however, because histological findings indicated a malignant transformation of WDPM to DMM.     

Clinical and hematologic characteristics in acute leukemia with 11q23 translocations

We studied the clinical, morphological, and immunologic characteristics of 11 patients with 11q translocation-associated acute leukemia. There were three patients with t(9;11)(p22;q23), one with a variant of the t(9;11), three with t(11;19)(q23;p13), two with t(1;11)(p32;q23), one with t(10;11)(p15;q22or23), and one with t(11;17) (q23;q25). The breakpoints in chromosome 11 clustered in band q23. The morphological feature was FAB-M5 in two patients, FAB-M2 in one, FAB-L1 in six, and lymphoblastic lymphoma in one. The remaining patient underwent morphological changes from FAB-L1 seen at the time of diagnosis to M5b at relapse. Immunologic marker studies in ten patients revealed that one had T cell type; another pre-B cell type; three CALLA- Ia- non-T, non-B type; two CAL-LA- Ia+ non-T, non-B type; two monocytic type (positive Fc-receptor); and the remaining one underwent phenotypic changes from CALLA+ Ia+ non-T, non-B type to monocytic type. The patients were usually young; five were under 1 year and two were 9 and 13 years. Hyperleukocytosis was observed in eight of the ten patients with acute leukemia, and two of the eight died of intracranial hemorrhage within two days of admission, associated with disseminated intravascular coagulation. These findings indicate that leukemia with the 11q23 translocation share certain characteristics in common, irrespective of the recipient chromosome, even though the latter may have some influence on the morphological and immunologic phenotype. Our data provide a hypothesis that multipotent stem cells are involved in the genesis of the 11q translocation-associated leukemia.     

Structure and Properties of Poly(ethylene terephthalate) Fiber Webs Prepared via Laser-Electrospinning and Subsequent Annealing Processes

Melt-electrospinning is an eco-friendly method for producing ultra-fine fibers without using any solvent. We prepared webs of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) through melt-electrospinning using CO₂ laser irradiation for heating. The PET webs comprised ultra-fine fibers of uniform diameter (average fiber diameter = 1.66 μm, coefficient of variation = 19%). The co-existence of fibers with high and low molecular orientation was confirmed through birefringence measurements. Although the level of high orientation corresponded to that of commercial highly oriented yarn, crystalline diffraction was not observed in the wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) analysis of the webs. The crystallinity of the webs was estimated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The fibers with higher birefringence did not exhibit any cold crystallization peak. After annealing the web at 116 °C for 5 min, a further increase in the birefringence of the fibers with higher orientation was observed. The WAXD results revealed that the annealed webs showed crystalline diffraction peaks with the orientation of the c-axis along the fiber axis. In summary, the formation of fibers with a unique non-crystalline structure with extremely high orientation was confirmed.